Machine for profiling wheel rims



Dec. 15, 1964 E. HENDRICKS MACHINE FOR PROFILING WHEEL RIMS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 Ems/ Hendn'c/rs By Ms affomeys 4M M 24M Dec. 15, 1964 E. HENDRICKS MACHINE FOR PROFILING WHEEL RIMS 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 Q w Q mm @W 9mm 8 //7 1/60 for EmsfHflC/f/CAS By his affomeys Aw a w Dec. 15, 1964 E. HENDRICKS 3,161,222

MACHINE FOR PROFILING WHEEL RIMS Filed Dec. 27, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 3//7 V6/7/0f Emsf Hendr/c/rs By his affomeys Dec. 15, 1964 E. HENDRICKS3,151,222

MACHINE FOR PROFILING WHEEL RIMS Filed Dec. 27. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 9370 370 360 36b fl I 580 1964 E. HENDRICKS 3,16

MACHINE FOR PROFILING WHEEL RIMS Filed Dec 27. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 34M iv a.

United States Patent 3,161,222 MACHINE FGR PRGFILING WHEEL RIMS ErnstHendricks, Solingen, Germany, assignor to Kronprinz Aktiengesellschaft,Solingcn-Ghligs, Germany, a

company of Germany Filed Dec. 27, I961, Ser. No. 162,405 9 Claims. (6].153-113) This invention relates to a machine for profiling wheel rims,and in particular for producing in a single operation rims havingdropped centers from a preshaped piece of sheet metal cut to size.

Rolling machines designed for this purpose have been known hitherto;moreover, tools have been suggested for producing rims in a singlefinishing operation through rolling a pre-pressed cut-to-size piece ofsheet metal, principally in an axial direction. However, these priormachines either do not hold the product to correct dimen sions or arenot capable of high production rates.

In accordance with the invention these defects are avoided by means of amachine for rolling Wheel rims comprising a radially adjustable outerroller, two inner rollers, coaxial with each other, axially adjustableand each divided into at least two sections, means for moving thesections of said inner rollers axially toward one another, and two setsof roller guide means mounted to cooperate with said outer roller, eachset of guide means comprising two conical rollers and one cylindricalroller between said conical rollers, both sets of guide means beingradially adjustable with said outer roller. Preferably the sets ofroller guide means can be shifted toward one another; that is, theirjournals are adjustable parallel to one another; preferably throughmounting them in pivotable levers. Moreover, the inner rollers arepreferably disposed on the outer ends of drive shafts which are movableaxially. One of the sections of each inner roller is fixed to the driveshaft md another section is displaceable axially relative to the firstsection.

A further feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that theaxial movement of the sections of the inner rollers is effected orinitiated by means that are brought into a functional relationship withone another by axial movement of the drive shafts of the inner rollers.

Preferably the sections of the inner rollers are movable on the driveshafts in such a way that the distances of the several longitudinalelements of the rim cross-section from the points of contact with theroller sections remain constant throughout the entire forming process.

In one embodiment of the invention the inner rollers have inner andouter parts or sections and the means, one for each roller, causingaxial movement of the outer parts, come into direct contact with eachother. These means effect axial movement of the outer parts of therollers through pivoting levers, one element of which bears upon theouter parts themselves and another upon the means causing movement ofthe outer parts.

In another embodiment of the invention, the parts or sections of theinner rollers are moved toward each other by means which come intocontact indirectly and effect movement of said parts through releasinglocking elements, permitting spring loaded inner parts to shift relativeto the outer parts.

The invention will be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of aprofiling machine according to the invention in which the inner rollersare shown in general outline.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of a portion of a machinesimilar to that shown in FIG. 1, having laterally adjustable rollerguide means.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views in vertical section showing "ice details of theinner rollers shown more generally in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 shows thearrangement at the beginning of the profiling operation. FIG. 4 showsthe arrangement at the end of the operation.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views in vertical section of another form of innerrollers. FIG. 5 is taken at the beginning of the profiling operation andFIG. 6 at the end.

FIG. 7 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation ofroller guide means as used in the invention for accurate lateralpiloting of the cut-to-size Work piece or blank.

Referring to FIG. 1, a profiling machine according to the inventioncomprises a foundation 1 upon which is mounted an upright 2 and a stand3. Mounted on the front of the upright 2 is a vertically movable slide4. An outer roller 5 is rotatably mounted in the lower part of thisslide. In the upright 2 is also mounted a horizontally guided slide 612and on the stand 3 is mounted another horizontally guided slide 6a. Thestand 3 is positionecl relative to the upright 2 so that the slides 6aand 6b are directly opposite one another. The slide 6a has journaled init a horizontal shaft 7a and the slide 6b has a shaft 7b. On the ends ofthese shafts are fixed inner rollers 8a and 8b respectively. The shafts7a and 7b are driven synchronously. Thus, for example, they may bedriven off a common shaft 21 by belts or chains; alternatively,hydraulic or electric drives can be used. The rotary speed of the roller5 is also positively controlled and coordinated with the rollers 8a and8b. The means by which this can he done are conventional and for thesake of simplicity will not be described. Electrical (or electronic) orhydraulic controls may be used here and elsewhere in the machine, asdesired.

For accurately guiding the work (shown as in FIGS. 2) roller guide means10 are mounted on each side of the slide 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2the roller guide means 19 move up and down with the slide 4. The slideitself may be actuated by means of an eccentric I1, rotated by a motorwhich is not shown, and the lever system 12.

The roller guide means 10 can be fixed with respect to lateral movementor they can be mounted to be moved laterally toward one another (andtoward the work) to suit the travel of the slide 4. As shown in FIG. 2,this can be done by mounting the guide means in levers Ida which arepivotally mounted in the slide 4. The levers 10a are themselves actuatedby drive shafts Illb which are threaded in extensions Illa fixedlymounted on cars 4a which extend out from the slide 4. A locking deviceis provided for mounting the levers 10a in a desired position.

The vertical movement of the slide 4 effects and controls horizontalmovement of the inner rollers 8a and 8b toward each other. Thus theslide 4 is provided with a cam 13. A rocker I5, pivotally mounted on theupright 2, carries a contacting roller 14 against which the cam bears inits vertical movement. The roller 14 is kept pressed against the surfaceof the cam 13 by means of the pressure cylinder 17 acting through aplunger 18 and a system of rods In. Vertical movement of the slide 4thus actuates rocker 15, causing vertical movement of plunger 18. Theplunger 18 operates a roller 1% which is coupled by a belt with a roller1%, in such a way that the roller 19b rotates in a direction opposite to19:1. Rollers 19a and 1917 are coupled through rod and lever systems Zdaand Ztlb with the slides 6a and 6b, respectively, so that rotation of19a and 1% causes the slides 64: and 6b, the shafts 7a and 7b and theinner rollers 8a and 8b to move toward each other.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4,.these show details of construction of theinner rollers 3a and 3b which, taken together, may be said to comprisean inner tool, i.e.

the clamp 3 t a tool used inside the wheel rim to give it shape asopposed to the outer tool used outside the rim, which is, of course, theroller 5 and associatedstructures. As in FIGS. 1 and 2, 7a and 7b arethe shafts carrying the rollers 8a and 8b. Each of the rollers 8a and'Sbcoms,1e1,222 H prises two parts axially displaceable relative to one an-7 other. These are the inner parts 22a and 22b and the outer parts 23aand 23b. Taken together these parts are r ing the rim shoulders,while'the parts 23a, 23b serve to form the rim flange.

In their initial position, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner parts 22a, 22bare separated from the outer parts 23a, 23b by sets of coilsprings suchas 24a, 24b distributed uniformly around the circumference of each ofthe rollers 8a and 8b. The springs 24a, 24b are lodged in the outerparts and in the intermediate pieces 25a, 25b, which are connected tothe inner parts 22a, 22b by means of flanges 60a, 60b, which engagewithxmatching flanges 6111,6111 in the inner parts 22a, 22b. 7 I

Here it may be interjected that the work piece or blank 9, cut to size,is inserted in the machine while the two rollers 8a, 8b are fully apart,about as shown in FIG. 1

and before the position of the tool shown in FIG. 3 is reached. Theslide 4 is then brought down, causing the roller 5 to come into contactwith the outer surface of the blank. At the same time the inner rollers8a and 8b are caused to move together, by the mechanism described above.The actual profiling or shaping of the rim begins at about the positionshown in FIG. 3.

Referring again to FIG. 3, as the slide 4" continues to move down, theshafts 7a and 7b approach one another with simultaneous controlledpositioning-of the outer tool 5. Through this action the drop center. isfor the most part profiled. "As the shafts 7a and 7b continue map- 27a;27b and pressure rollsv 28a, 28b to circular segments 29a, 2%. v a 7vThe circular segments 29ag29b are distributed uniformly around thecircumference of the inner rolls 8a, 8b being mounted in guide pieces32a, 3212., The latter are embedded in annular elements 33a, 33b. Theseannular elements33a, 33b are clamped tightlyon the 'shai'ts 7a, 7b bymeans of sleeves 34a, 34b and clamp rings- 35a, 35b; Spacer rings 35cand 35d are inserted between rings 35a, 35b and the pressure elements26a, 26b. v V f; 7

Under pressure from rolls 28a, 28b, the segments 29a, 2% press againstthe pressure rolls 30a, 30b and the pans 31a, 31b and thus shift theouter parts 23a, 23b against the pressure of springs24a', 24b, towardthe inner parts 22a, 22b. This movement, and also the downward'move-.ment of outer rollers S'continues until all the parts are closetogether and the profiling. operation has reached its final stage asshown in FIG. 4.v

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a somewhat'different structure for the inner rollers8a, 8b. In these figures, forthe. sake of clan'ty the section of theleft hand roller 8a has been taken in a different plane fromthat inwhichthe section of the right hand rollerfib is taken;

In FIGS. 5 and .6, .Sfis the outer roller and 9 is the material beingworked; The insertion of the blank and the adjustment of the-'outer and'inner tools relative to each other is' done in the same way as in FIGS}and 4.1 In the first stage of the: operatiom'however, the radial,

i.e. downward, movemento'f the outer roller. Siand the axial positioningofitheinnerrollers8a, 8b proceeds with a the parts 36a, 36b (whichcorrespond generallyftor the parts 23a, 23b of FIGS. 3 and 4) lockedimmovably relative -.to..the parts 237b, 37 b (which-correspond to 22a,22b OLE-188.13; and 14 Consequentlyithe' drop, center rimshouldersbecome profiled [first-through parts 37a,

37b and then the rim flanges are profiled through parts 36a, 36b.Locking of parts 36a, 36b relative to 37a, 37b is effected by lockingelements 38a, 33b distributed uniformly around the circumference of therollers. These locking elements are forced outwardly by springs such as39 and act withthe pressure plates 41 to grasp the parts 37a, 37b andhold them fixed with respect to the rollers 8a, 8b. The'parts 36a, 361)are, of course, permanently fixed to the rollers 8a, 8b by screws suchas 62.

When the drop center rim being worked is almost are distributed aboutthe circumference of both rollers,

'strike against the pressure plates 41. The locking pins are forcedbackwardly compressing coil spring 42 and camming locking segments 38a,38b downwardly (as the segments appear in FIGS. 5 and 6). v This permitsrelative movement between the parts 36a, 36b and 37a, 37b. As therollers 8a, Sb are moved axially inwardly, they carry with them theparts 36a, 36b and these parts are forced into contact with the parts37a, 37b (as shown in FIG. 6) against the pressure of disc springs suchas 44, profiling the rim flanges.

s As noted above the invention further provides roller guide means 16associated with the outer roller 5. FIG. 7 shows "the construction of apreferred form of these roller guide means. Referring to FIG. 7 theroller guide I means indicated generally as 10 are set in bearings 45which are mounted either fixedly or adjustably on the vertical slide 4.The guide means comprise a shaft 46 :upon which is fixedly mounted bymeans of support sleeves47and clamp rings 48, a pair of conical rollers-49, and a cylindrical roller 50. The cylindrical roller serves forpiloting in the drop center of the profile, and

j prevents radial deflection of the blank; While the conical proach eachother, the outer ends 26c,'26d of pressure elements 26:1,261; come intocontact with one another, The resulting. pressure is transmitted throughcylinder pans rollers 49 guide the edges of .the profile, so' that theblank is sure to run' properly, as is shown in FIG. 7 for the initialand the final positions. The taper of the rollers 49 is so selected thatcontact with the edges of the blank, and thus lateral guidance, aresecured during the profiling operation.

What isclaimed is: 1. A profiling machine for bending a cylindricalblank into a Wheel rimcomprising an outer roller and .two inner rollers,the rollers being positioned to enable a cylindrical 'blank to bedisposed Wlthithq inner rolls inside and the 5. The machine cl outerroller outside the blank, the inner rollers being coaxial with oneanother, axially adjustable, and each divided into two sections, meansfor moving the outer roller radially of a blank positioned between itand the inner rollers {and thus pressing such blank against the innerrollers, means for moving the inner rollers toward one another and formoving a sectionof each inner roller toward the other sectionof thatroller, two sets of roller guide means, forfcentering a blank disposedbetween the outer roller the inner rollers, ea'chof said sets comprisingtwo conical rollers and a cylindrical roller positionedjbetween theconical rollers, both sets of guide means being movable with said outerroller. t 2. The machine claimed in claim 1 and comprising means formoving said sets of roller guide means toward oneano-ther; f V 3. Themachine claimed in claim 2 wherein each set 'ofroller guide means ismounted in a pivotable lever. i

4. The machine, claimed in .,cl aim 1 and comprising drive shaftsandmeans to movelthe 'dr iveshafts axially,

I each. of the inner rollers'being arranged on one end of a 'dr'ive'shafnone of the' section s of each of the inner rollersbeing-made'fastl to the drive shaft, and anothersection being moveableinan axial. direction withrespect to the first mentionedsection'. 1;, mi mo /cable sections" of the inner rollers are moveable relaftive'tothe'drive shafts in sucha'way that the distances of claim 4; and inwhichthe 3) individual longitudinal elements of the rim cross sectionfrom points of contact with the roller sections remain constant throughthe whole forming process.

6. The machine claimed in claim 4 and comprising means in each of theinner rollers for displacing the sections of the roller toward eachother, said means being brought into functional relationship by theaxial movement of the drive shafts.

7. The machine claimed in claim 4 and comprising means, in each of theinner rollers, for displacing the sections of the roller toward eachother, said means comprising pressure elements, the pressure element ineach roller being positioned to come into direct engagement with thepressure element of the other roller as the inner rollers are movedaxially toward each other and lever means, pivotally mounted in each ofsaid rollers, one part of said lever means bearing upon said pressureelement and another part upon the section of the roller to be displaced.

8. The machine claimed in claim 4 and comprising means for lockin thesections of the inner rollers with respect to one another, and means forunlocking said locking means.

9. The machine claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said inner rollers hasan inner section and an outer section, spring means forcing saidsections apart, locking means for maintaining said sections separated,and means for unlocking said locking means to permit said inner sectionto be brought into contact with said outer section by axial movement ofsaid rollers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,105,289 1/38Lobdell 153-48 2,185,347 1/40 Le Jeune 29159.l 2,268,330 12/41 Bouee15329 2,478,231 8/49 Bowers 78-15 MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Primary Examiner.

WHITEMORE A. WILTZ, CHARLES W. LANHAM,

Examiners.

1. A PROFILING MACHINE FOR BENDING A CYLINDRICAL BLANK INTO A WHEEL RIMCOMPRISING AN OUTER ROLLER AND TWO INNER ROLLER, THE ROLLERS BEINGPOSITIONED TO ENABLE A CYLINDRICAL BLANK TO BE DISPOSED WITH THE INNERROLLS INSIDE AND THE OUTER ROLLER OUTSIDE THE BLANK, THE INNER ROLLERSBEING COAXIAL WITH ONE ANOTHER, AXIALLY ADJUSTABLE, AND EACH DIVIDEDINTO TWO SECTIONS, MEANS FOR MOVING THE OUTER ROLLER RADIALLY OF A BLANKPOSITIONED BETWEEN IT AND THE INNER ROLLER AND THUS PRESSING SUCH BLANKAGAINST THE INNER ROLLERS, MEANS FOR MOVING THE INNER ROLLER TOWARD ONEANOTHER AND FOR MOVING A SECTION OF EACH INNER ROLLER TOWARD THE OTHERSECTION OF THAT ROLLER, TWO SETS OF ROLLER